CHINESE AGENCIES INTERFERED IN FEDERAL ELECTION IN CANADA

The Chinese plan included disinformation campaigns and cash donations to friendly candidates.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The Canadian intelligence agency has revealed that Chinese agencies had interfered in the Canadian federal election held in September 2021 to ensure the return of the Justin Trudeau-led Liberal government and defeat the Conservative politicians which are considered to be unfriendly to Beijing.

The said interference cost at least nine seats to the Conservatives, paving the way for the return of the incumbent government, with 10 fewer seats to the majority. Among those Conservative candidates who lost the election, as per the Canadian agencies, included Kenny Chiu, a Conservative who lost his seat of Steveston-Richmond East and MP from Richmond Centre, Alice Wong.

The Chinese plan included disinformation campaigns, cash donations to friendly candidates and arranging for business owners to hire Chinese international students, studying in Canada, as campaign volunteers to support preferred Liberal candidates.

These developments come in the backdrop of similar attempts being made in India in the runup to the next year general elections as revealed by The Sunday Guardian earlier.